Premier Theatre
509 Sutter Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11207
509 Sutter Avenue,
Brooklyn,
NY
11207
6 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 28 comments
Grand opening ad as Loew’s Premier posted.
I lived around the corner on Hinsdale St. I used to ride my tricycle around the lobby. Harry the usher also let me inside to see the fish swimming in the fountain. First movie I saw was a western. The only scene I remember is a huge prairie fire. Then again I was sitting in the front row with my Uncle Jack. This was probably 1955 or 1956.
Grand opening was March 22, 1923 by Samuel Lesselbaum.
It seems Samschoe that many theaters had “competition” from the mom and pop stores near them. When we (friends) would go to a theater, Cityline, Premier, Kinema, CrossBay, Ridgewood, Madison, etc that come to mind, we would stock up on the goodies before going in of course sometime we just bought the PopCorn in the movies. My the Kinema we had Moe’s great knishes! The last show I went there for was to see Fania All-star’s “Our Latin Thing” The place looked a little frayed and worn down. But the place was packed.
This was a beautiful theater in the ‘50s and early 60’s with a marble staircase, red velvet carpeting and extravagant chandeliers—-and that was just to get up to the main level. Too bad, the link above to the rare inside photo is no longer operative. The outside photo shows to the left of the marquee, the luncheonette/candy store where we would load up on sunflower seeds and Milk Duds, much cheaper than the movie candy stand which was located under the gorgeous chandeliers amid all the lush carpeting. I also remember the sweeping curtains that covered the screen.
I did go there a few times but the most memorable time was to see the Fania release of “Our Latin Thing” in the early 1970s. I did work above the Premier in the Neighborhood Youth Corps at 505 Sutter Ave and also volunteer there. It was a program under Council Against Poverty under the guidelines of the Community Development Corporation. I also was Chairman of the Youth Advisory Council. Mr. Mario Perez was the Adult advisor. Ednydia Irrizary was the Secreatary. Mr Fletcher and Mrs Odoms were coordinators and I think Mr. Bowman was the Director. We would walk there from Essex Street. ENY Model Cities was on Hinsdale Street near Belmont Avenue. My friend David Riquelme’s father worked there.
My father grew up in Brownsville, Brooklyn and he used to take me to many of the theaters in the area. However I think we went to the Loews Premier the most. I remember it being a very nice theater with a fountain and wishing-well as you left the outer-lobby to enter the theater.I remember the Loews Metropolitan as also having a fountain/wishing-well. I was a nice lavish theater (although not as lavish as the Loews Pitkin.) For some reason I mostly remember seeing films there starring Glenn Ford: “Cimarron,” “Pocketful of Miracles” and a comedy called “It Started with a Kiss,” also starring Debbie Reynolds. For years, I used to see this theater,already closed, as the L train passed the Sutter Avenue station. Since I gave up on the L train many years ago, even before I moved to Staten Island, I would assume the Premier is no longer there. It was a wonderful theater though.
A great shot from a Jerry Lewis personal appearance tour
Per various comment above, the status should be changed to demolished.
Dear Harold……Thats interesting. I’ve been getting an average of 20 e-mails a day. Did I give the right address…..It is:
Try again………Leo Weinstein
Leo, I tried sending you an e-mail but it was undeliverable 2 or 3 times so try sending me one at and we’ll talk
Dear Warren: I have tried any number of times to get the pictures from the site you mention, but I have not met with any success. I wonder if you could provide more specific information. I would be really grateful for your help.
There was also a theater callled the Stone, probably (appropriately enough) on Stone Avenue. Since I am writing a memoir of my childhood in East New York, I visited the site of the Premier recently. Sadly, there is now only an empty lot. What happened to Sutter Avenue is truly an American tragedy.
I believe it was called the Supreme Theater. I went there many times,as it was convenient for it being around the corner from where I lived. I went to JHS PS149, and the only teachers name that I can remember was Mr. Henry, who was my woodworking teacher. I have not been back to this old neighborhood for more than 30 years, and often wonder what it looks like, and if the building I lived in is still standing, but I doubt that it is. Every once in a while I entertain the thought to visit the old neighborhood to see what it looks like. The only name I can remember is Manny Stein who also lived on Williams Avenue. We were best friends, but unfortunately I lost track of him many years ago……Leo Weinstein
it was either the Biltmore or the Supreme…I lived on Alabama Ave., betw. Blake and Sutter aves… from 1947-1961… loved the Premier for my ‘neighborhood theater’ … and the Pitkin for my ‘date theater’….Suzie Kusnetz
Harold and I actually went to JHS together. JHS 149…. Mr Antosofsky’s class… I think he was one of only three boys in that class..
it was either the Biltmore or the Supreme…I lived on Alabama Ave., betw. Blake and Sutter aves… from 1947-1961… loved the Premier for my ‘neighborhood theater’ … and the Pitkin for my ‘date theater’….Suzie Kusnetz
it was either the Biltmore or the Supreme…I lived on Alabama Ave., betw. Blake and Sutter aves… from 1947-1961… loved the Premier for my ‘neighborhood theater’ … and the Pitkin for my ‘date theater’….Suzie Kusnetz
Having some idle time I decided to do a Google and type “502 Williams Avenue”, which was the address of the building I grew up in Brooklyn from the time I was an infant in the year 1932 until I left in the mid 70’s, and much to my surprise the Cinema Treasures Website came up, and a guy named Harold also lived in this building. Unbelievable! I went to the Premier Theater many times, but I also went to the movie theater just across the street from 502 Williams Avenue, but I can’t remember the name of the theater. The entrance was actually around the corner on Livonia Avenue. There was a Waldmans Bakery on Livonia Avenue…….Leo Weinstein…
In 1974 it was still listed as a UA
View link
the loews preimiere was a close second to the pitkin as brownsvilles landmark theatre
it played all the great mgm movies
i was there in april of 1964=to see ‘imitation of life’ and ‘seven d
ays in may'
it already saw its best days
the goldfish fountain in the lobby was drained
and had a real seedy look
i dont believe loews owned it by than
the priemiere in 1964 reflected what the rest of brownsville was becoming-a disaster
I am amazed that there seems to be so little in the way of images of the old movie houses in Brooklyn. When I was a teenager in the late 50s, Loew’s Premier was the place to be on a Friday night. Lots of the guys and girls from Thomas Jefferson High School and other local schools would be there. Unforgettable, of course, was the goldfish pond in the front lobby. Sutter Avenue was actually a fashionable shopping street in those days—hard as that may be to believe now. If anyone has any pictures of the old Premier or any of the other theaters in East New York, I would be very appreciative.
Harold… did you go to either PS 174, JHS 149 and/or Wingate High School? I think you and I were in the same class…. either Mr. Wertheim, Mrs. Magrill, Mr. Antosofsky or Mr. Grand? Suzie Kusnetz (one of the taller girls)
Grew up at 502 Williams Ave between Riverdale and Livonia and needless to say I went to this theatre almost every week; my friend’s uncle worked behind the candy counter there. As far as I remember, the theatre played day and date with the Pitkin from 1953 at least until mid ‘62. When Premier Showcase was initiated by United Artists things started to change drastically. The one thing I do recall that Wedsnday started a new double bill each week butif films didn’t do well they would be replaced on Monday for 2 days with a double bill of 2 lesser features. Any pictures of exterior or interior of this theatre would be greatly appreciated. My e-mail address is I also have a list of every double bill that played there from 1953 thru 1962 which is totally acurate and 1963 thru 1964 which is mostly accurate. Thank You, Harold Warshavsky
…grew up down the street and loved going regularly to the movies… red velvet seats, a balcony where we’d ‘make-out’ … loges, fish in a tank in the lobby? marble… boys with flashlights who’d lead you to your seats… went to The Pitkin on dates.. fancy, twinkling ‘stars’ above, an organ… gorgeous… any pics of the interiors/exteriors will be most appreciated… so would your memories of growing up in the neighborhood… Suzie
Thank you Orlando for the information. Yes the 1977 blackout did cause business to close down. I also remember the Buster Brown Shoe’s store at the corner of Williams, and Sutter Ave after the looting it closed down. I was 10 years old. The only thing I remember is that in the spring of 1980 demolition started knocking down The Premier Theatre, in which during that time me,and my friends from the neighborhood would play tag inside the dark abandon theatre which in today’s world I don’t recommend it. I would like too keep in contact with you. If you could some who e-mail me those picture I would mean alot to me. My e-mail is Thank you Carlos Velez